An instruction written by a doctor that directs a pharmacist to dispense a particular drug in a specific dose.
A prescription details how often the drug must be taken, how much is to be dispensed, and other relevant facts.
The written direction for drugs for medicinal use, given by the doctor, dentist and (for some drugs) nurse to the patient, for dispensation by the pharmacist. Drugs should only be prescribed when essential for treatment, and when any possible risks involved to the patient (and fetus in cases of pregnancy) are outweighed by the potential bene?ts of giving the drug. When possible, non-proprietary, or generic, titles should be prescribed; by allowing the pharmacist to dispense any equivalent drug this avoids delay for the patient, as well as reducing the cost to the Health Service. Dosage is generally stated in metric units, and both the amount and frequency should be carefully explained to the patient by the doctor, and clearly written when the drug is dispensed (see also DOSAGE; DRUGS). Strict adherence to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 is necessary to restrict the inappropriate prescription and abuse of drugs, particularly CONTROLLED DRUGS. Full details of drugs available on NHS prescription are given in the British National Formulary, which is published by the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain twice a year and distributed to all NHS doctors by the government. Careful monitoring of prescribing in the UK is carried out by a government-appointed agency.
n. a written direction from a registered medical practitioner to a pharmacist for preparing and dispensing a drug.
The Royal College of General Practitioners has issued guidelines on the use of computer-generated prescriptions for drugs other than controlled drugs. The guidelines include rules on giving the patient’s name, address and date of birth with the responsible prescribing doctor’s name at the bottom, along with his or her surgery address and telephone number. The prescription has to be signed by the doctor. Several other requirements are included to minimise the risk of prescription-tampering, fraud or the inclusion of identi?able con?dential information. Full details of the guidelines appear in the British National Formulary, published every six months.... computer-generated prescriptions
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